Ice hockey: the main stories of 12.09.2026

Traktor are without Vitali Kravtsov. The forward has left the Chelyabinsk squad, flown home and said he will not play for the club while Ivan Savin is general manager. By one report, the relationship has soured so far that he may take his contract to a civil court. It comes with Traktor having lost 2 of their first 3 games. Andrei Balandin, a former Traktor director, had already said that only Dronov and Legare had played well. Neither side has given ground so far.

Eight goals without reply was what Spartak put past Severstal, and reports say the game set a KHL record. Alexei Zhamnov still saw areas where his side could be stronger, while Severstal coach Andrei Kozyrev admitted they had been beaten in every department. Roman Rotenberg said USA Hockey has officially backed the return of Russian teams, citing revenue and competition. That came a day after he said junior sides would be the first to go back. In St Petersburg, the two Dinamos were fighting seconds after the opening face-off. Moscow later won 3-2 in a shootout.

• Vladislav Tretyak proposed testing pre-match shootouts in the off-season. Nikita Shchitov called the idea the work of non-hockey people, adding to criticism from Razin and Goldobin the day before.
• Reports say Metallurg equalised 9 seconds from time in Kazan and beat Ak Bars 3-2 in a shootout.
• According to one journalist, Sochi were stranded in Grozny before hosting SKA. They lost 1-0.
• Amur won 3-1 away to Barys.
• Severstal forward David Dumbadze called the 0-8 defeat a disgraceful display, one outlet reports.
• Leonid Tambiev said the question of Nikita Gusev returning to Dinamo is not closed. Balandin said he has no faith in Tambiev.
• One outlet reports that Montreal have agreed a one-year deal with Chris Kreider, who scored 22+28 in 70 games for Anaheim last season.
• Vegas have reportedly extended captain Mark Stone for 2 years at a $9m cap hit.
• Ovechkin has reported to the Capitals' practice rink before his 22nd NHL season. Sidney Crosby said his shot has not gone anywhere.
• Connor Ingram, who won the 2024 Masterton Trophy, has retired at 29.
• Phil and Amanda Kessel, Oshie, Suter and Stan Wong have been named to the US Hockey Hall of Fame. The induction is on 30 November.
• Gavin McKenna scored a lacrosse-style goal at Toronto's rookie camp. He will not play in the prospects tournament in Gatineau.
• Seattle's Matty Beniers said the players were stung by Jason Robertson turning down the club.
• Tribuna reports that referee Alexei Gavrilenok has been detained in Minsk on suspicion of murder.